Tiger Land ~(h.s)

2. Re-united

Two crying babies, a whining twelve-year-old, three F.r.i.e.n.d.s episodes and two movies later the seatbelt sign flicks on for landing.

"Thirty minutes till landing, please return to your seats and stow away overhead luggage securely" informs the pilot through the PA system.

I breathe a sigh of relief to the news that the weather will be 26 degrees I really don't have the energy for the cold or heat right now.

The plane makes smooth contact with the ground and taxi is completed as the pilot welcomes us to the city. "Thank you for flying British Airways, we hope you enjoy your stay". With that welcome and the switching off of the seatbelt sign I hurry to grab my things from the overhead compartment.

Wheeling my suitcase behind me I walk down a corridor labeled "exit to arrivals lounge" in both English and a language I can't read. I pause after walking through double sliding doors to scan the room full of friends and families anticipating their loved ones arrivals.

The air is almost knocked out of my lungs and I'm tackled to the ground in a bear hug as I instinctively rap my arms around the familiar red headed mess of frizz that's latched around my waist.

"Millyyy!" Amanda chirps while squeezing me tighter "It's so good to see you"

"Ah Amanda I've missed you" I respond.

"How was your flight? Are you well? Are you hungry?

"Tired, one question at a time please" I throw back lightly with a chuckle.

Amanda laughs "sorry girl! let's get to the car then I'll interrogate you"

Grabbing my suitcase from me, the shorter girl tries to throw her arm over my shoulder in an attempt to convince her self that she's gotten taller, only to realize she hasn't grown despite the long space of time since our last encounter. Wrapping her arm around my back she gestures in the direction where she must have parked her car.

It feels good to be in the same place as Amanda again, it's been too long since we had the chance to hang out properly. There's so much to catch up on I'm not sure where to begin but hopefully she holds out on the nitty-gritty details until tomorrow or never goes into it at all.

"I can't believe the day has finally come Amelia! You're in town all the way from the good ol' London" Amanda remarks.

"Tell me about it" I say as I help Amanda lift my suitcase into the boot of her small navy car.

"So we'll pick up some pizza on the way to mine, cool with you?" Amanda asks.

"Yeah I'm starving, I'll even eat mushrooms on it" I respond and Amanda laughs at my slight desperation to get food.

The drive to Amanda's place is about 45 minutes from the airport with the help of highways, so Amanda make sure that we have good tunes cranking. Top 40 is playing on a local station and the tracks are pretty similar to the latest music back home expect a couple I've not heard before.

'Man this girl has really adjusted to the hectic traffic here, she drives like a freaking local' I think to my self.

Before I know it I feel like Amanda never left London for her studies and that we're on one of our weekend road trip adventures. Except this drive is taking us on a more interesting adventure than ever before.